AltaPointe Health Systems and Baldwin County Mental Health (BCMH) merge. Patients can expect better access to service and a broader continuum of care.

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AltaPointe begins a new and exciting era. While the southwest region of Alabama now has a better and broader-based system in place to provide increased more accessible behavioral healthcare services for people living with mental illness.

"The merger helps us become a better regional, behavioral healthcare system. This action also helps us respond to the changes that have already happened in healthcare as well as the ones we know are coming our way," Tuerk Schlesinger, AltaPointe CEO.

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The merger of AltaPointe Health Systems and Baldwin County Mental Health (BCMH) became official, April 1, 2014, with the approval of the Mobile City Council during its regular meeting. “AltaPointe began a new and exciting era today,” Tuerk Schlesinger, AltaPointe CEO, said.

The southwest region of Alabama now has a better and broader-based system in place to provide increased more accessible behavioral healthcare services.

One major change the merger will bring about is that in addition to Mobile and Washington counties, AltaPointe’s service area (as designated under Act 310) will expand to include all of Baldwin County.

With this merger, AltaPointe now employs nearly 1,300 and will provide treatment to more than 20,000 individuals.

“The AltaPointe and BCMH boards of directors thoroughly investigated the needs of both organizations and recognized the wisdom of the merger,” Schlesinger continued. “They were diligent, patient and understanding as we pored over the multitude of details required to bring about the merger.”

AltaPointe leaders say this is not a typical merger like you might read about in the for-profit world. There is no buyout, no downsizing, and no layoffs; in fact, there will be an expansion of services. BCMH will convert to the AltaPointe brand over a period of months.

“The merger is helping us become a better regional, behavioral healthcare system,” Schlesinger said. “This action also helps us respond to the changes that have already happened in healthcare as well as the ones we know are coming our way.”

AltaPointe welcomes its new employees, patients and partners in Baldwin County.

"Together, with our existing employees and partners, AltaPointe can achieve great things for the individuals in our region who live with mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disability disorders,” Schlesinger added.